The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Keizer Elementary School
Keizer Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Salem-Keizer School District, the second-largest district in Oregon. The school is located in Keizer, a primarily residential suburb of Salem that incorporated after several attempts to avoid annexation and experienced rapid residential growth in the 1990s. Despite that expansion, Keizer retains a small-town character, hosting Oregon's largest volunteer Little League organization and community events like KeizerFEST. The city lacks a traditional walkable downtown; commercial life is spread along auto-oriented corridors. The student body is large for an elementary school and is diverse. Hispanic or Latino students make up the majority, with White students also well represented, and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students come from lower-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
State testing results from the most recent available school year show proficiency rates that fall in the bottom quartile when compared with other schools across Marion County. In math, the share of students meeting state standards was low at each tested grade. In English language arts, proficiency was also low, though the fifth-grade rate was somewhat higher than the third-grade rate. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the share of students reaching proficiency was very low. Only a single year of data was available for this assessment, so no trend can be examined. A parent may want to ask the school about academic support programs and how the school approaches instruction, particularly for students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
Because Keizer Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, and data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not available in this record. The school is a regular, non-charter public school, and its magnet and Title I status were not reported. The district itself has been navigating budget pressures. Voters approved a large construction bond in 2022 that funds safety and classroom upgrades and raises property taxes, a cost families moving into the district will see on their tax bill. The school board voted to close one elementary school in 2023 and three more in 2024 to address budget shortfalls. In 2025, the board approved a new three-year strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness. These district-wide shifts could affect attendance boundaries, school programming, and resources at Keizer Elementary, so families may want to understand how this school fits into the district's current plans.
Keizer's housing market is priced somewhat below the state average but above the national median. Rents are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and the ratio of rent to income is within a typical range. The city's commercial corridors, parks, and community events provide a suburban environment oriented around cars rather than a pedestrian downtown. For a family considering Keizer Elementary, the academic performance numbers are a clear area to explore with the school, and the district transitions around closures and a new strategic plan are a relevant backdrop.
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